Abstract:

The phenomenon of new poverty, working poverty and the feminization of poverty indicate a relational, mutually nurturing, and processual situation. Within the context of the related literature through evaluating the results of the studies concerning various countries, structural causes, determinative and distinctive characteristics of “working female poverty” are discussed in a relational context. Considering the differentiating features of ‘working female poverty’ from ‘working poverty’, some main elements such as social, economic, and household structures that feed and reproduce working female poverty are focused here from a gender perspective. Neoliberal economic policies make poverty more fragile and destructive for “working poor women” who already have multiple disadvantages due to gender inequalities. “Working female poverty” reveals more severe appearances of accumulated and reproduced and thus gradually stratified problems. “Working female poverty” allows one to reconsider women with multiple disadvantages for being both “women” and “employees” within a heteronormative structure and functioning of the labor market, for the new distinguishing elements of poverty, for different deprivations experienced by women, and reconsidering for the preventive policies to reduce working poverty. Studies including various country cases display that the proportion of “working female poverty” has gradually increased proportionately and that poverty has become more prevalent by degrees.

Keywords: